Speed Stacks, Inc. : Science and Sport Stacking : "Dynamic Physical Education for Secondary School Students"

The following is an excerpt [reproduced with permission] from the textbook, Dynamic Physical Education for Secondary School Students, fifth edition, authored by renowned physical education authority Robert Pangrazi, who collaborated with his Arizona State colleague Paul Darst.

“We’re thrilled to have sport stacking recognized in this book,” said Bob Fox, Founder and President of Speed Stacks, Inc., himself a former PE teacher. “Being included in this respected textbook is an important validation of sport stacking and the positive impact it has on students.”

Sport Stacking with Speed Stacks ®

Students have been stacking drinking cups in some form or fashion since the invention of paper and plastic cups. In recent years, however, cup stacking has evolved into much more than a pastime on the kitchen floor. Now called sport stacking, it’s a full-fledged, challenging, and fun motor-skill activity, while also emerging as a stand-alone sport itself.

With the advent of plastic cups specifically designed for stacking (called Speed Stacks; www.speedstacks.com), students are manipulating cups with extraordinary precision and speed. Much like juggling, sport stacking focuses on hand-eye coordination and dexterity—but with a much higher success rate. It is easy to learn and appeals to all ability levels of students.

Sport stacking is an individual, small-group, or team activity where participants stack and unstack 12 specially made cups in predetermined pyramids. Stackers race against the clock and in relays. Sport stacking helps students use both sides of their bodies and brains, promoting hand quickness and concentration. Sport stacking can challenge students to focus on hand-eye coordination and reaction time—important skills for almost any sport of physical activity.

Every student, no matter what his or her athletic ability, can find success with sport stacking. This developmental activity is based on the inclusion of all students. Sport stacking is taught in a specific progression from the basic 3 Stack to the challenging Cycle Stack, which involves several advanced stacking sequences. It’s easy to master, and with practice, students can progress quickly to the more complicated patterns. Once the basic stacks are taught, there are many activities designed to enhance an entire sport stacking unit.

With sport stacking, there is an opportunity for individual, partner, and team activities, cooperative and competitive. The culmination of a sport stacking unit can include time trials for recording personal records, head-to-head relay matches, or a competitive tournament format. There is also room for creative expression with “freestyle stacking.” Sport stacking can include many positive elements such as teamwork, sportsmanship, competition, determination, achievement of personal bests, and world record setting.

The merits of sport stacking have been included in what many consider to be the leading textbook for physical educators teaching middle and high school students, the fifth edition of Dynamic Physical Education for Secondary School Students. It was recently published and is a comprehensive guide to developing effective physical education programs. Sport stacking earned three pages of coverage in the chapter titled “Promoting Cooperation and Inclusion: Nontraditional Units of Instruction.” According to the book, the units in this chapter offer students and teachers a “change of pace” and allow students “to develop new skills and work closely with classmates.” The text also states that sport stacking and the other featured “nontraditional” units meet four of the six National Standards for Physical Education and six of the eight Essential Components of a Quality Program.

Who is sport stacking?

Successful sport stacking programs have been
established by a variety of professionals working with
all ages. They include:

Physical Educators
Athletic Trainers
Coaches
Classroom Teachers
College Professors
Reading Specialists
Camp Directors
Home Educators
Occupational, Physical and Recreational Therapists
Adapted Physical Educators
Special Education Teachers
Before- and After-School Program Directors
Park and Recreation Leaders
Brain Rehab Specialists
Children's Pastors
Youth Leaders